[Health] The Infectious Diseases Thread

[Jeff V]

Hand sanitizers are good in an emergency and when you have no other choice. They should not be a go-to option. Nothing - nothing beats running water (it doesn't even need to be hot) and soap.

The hospital I worked for removed them after a study was published showing them to be ineffective and giving a false sense of protection.

[Kraken]

Even worse, excessive use of alcohol-based sanitizers dries the skin and opens up tiny cracks, making it more permeable. It's fine to use that stuff when a proper sink isn't an option, but you don't want to make it routine.

[hitbyambulance]

sound scientifically-based advice has been posted, but unfortunately, those most in need of hearing it will ignore it

[LawBeefaroni]

Even worse, excessive use of alcohol-based sanitizers dries the skin and opens up tiny cracks, making it more permeable. It's fine to use that stuff when a proper sink isn't an option, but you don't want to make it routine.

They have skin conditioners now. I use them several times a day and my hand have never been more beautiful. Which isn't saying a lot but you know.

[Blackhawk]

Courtesy of the CDC:

Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way
Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.

Follow these five steps every time.
[SNIP]

Well, looks like nothing has really changed in 20 years after all.

I wash my hands at home. In town i use my hand sanitizer. No way Im touching a faucet that 100s of others with nasty hands have touched.

You're worried about the faucet, but not opening the door, which is handled by three times as many unwashed people as the faucet?

That's what you'd get from training. You don't touch anything in the bathroom after washing your hands. You get the paper towel first, turn on the faucet, and wash your hands. You then dry your hands with the paper towel, use said paper towel to turn off the faucet, then use that paper towel to open the door on the way out. That's why smart places put an open trash can right by the door. When they don't, you'll notice paper towels on the floor right under the door handle when it is open. Each one is a person who knows how to wash their hands right.

And nothing is better than a bathroom with automatic faucet and no-door bent hallway entry.

[Blackhawk]

I do keep hand sanitizer in the car. I use it after a long shopping trip, handling dozens of items. So once a week. And anti-bacterial soap doesn't have any place in my home.

[Jeff V]

Then again, some of us aren't germophobes, enjoy a robust immune system in return, and don't get sick very often.

[Blackhawk]

Then again, some of us aren't germophobes, enjoy a robust immune system in return, and don't get sick very often.

Washing your hands after you go to the bathroom or after handling stuff in a redneck Walmart for an hour isn't germaphobia. It's basic sanitation and common sense.

[Jeff V]

Well....I know where my junk has been. As long as it doesn't contact an unknown entity, I'm likely good. I do wash my hands though, just because I like clean hands, not because of germophobia.

[Daehawk]

I use my foot to push doors and stalls and seats out of my way. The sanitizer is once Im out. But this is mostly in food stores. I dont bother with hands in other stores ...usually..I also dont use the bathrooms in most stores. only in emergency 'I CANT WAIT' times. And then only in certain stores.

[Holman]

This week I've had seven students (out of 50) email me that they have fevers and headaches and can't come to class. This is a higher number than I've ever seen before. It's unusual to have more than one or two students out for a couple of days at a time.

Possible interpretations:

1) these are colds or even mild cases of the regular flu, and everyone with any symptoms is just being extra careful;
2) some or all have contracted coronavirus despite no cases being reported in the Philadelphia area;
3) virus paranoia has increased to the point where even a hangover or bad night's sleep is treated as dire;
4) students are exploiting the global virus news to take some days off.

My cynical take is that I'm looking at some mixture of 3 and 4. Still, given that there are always a few cases of 1 this time of year, I'm giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.

(My university issued guidelines for handling a shutdown and teaching remotely, but those are not yet in effect.)

[Madmarcus]

Interestingly after one week of virtual synchronous teaching I have a total of three absences and one was a student who admitted that he accidentally slept through the class.

[msduncan]

I use my foot to push doors and stalls and seats out of my way. The sanitizer is once Im out. But this is mostly in food stores. I dont bother with hands in other stores ...usually..I also dont use the bathrooms in most stores. only in emergency 'I CANT WAIT' times. And then only in certain stores.

One thing I've considered recently is: Gas station pump handles. I wonder how many diseases are spread this way.

[Zaxxon]

I use my foot to push doors and stalls and seats out of my way. The sanitizer is once Im out. But this is mostly in food stores. I dont bother with hands in other stores ...usually..I also dont use the bathrooms in most stores. only in emergency 'I CANT WAIT' times. And then only in certain stores.

One thing I've considered recently is: Gas station pump handles. I wonder how many diseases are spread this way.

Solution: Electric car.

[Smoove_B]

One thing I've considered recently is: Gas station pump handles. I wonder how many diseases are spread this way.

None in NJ!

[Holman]

The CDC has just classified Italy at "Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel—Widespread Community Transmission."

One of my wife's duties at her university is overseeing the study-abroad program in Italy. Those kids are now probably having their semester curtailed.

[Kraken]

This week I've had seven students (out of 50) email me that they have fevers and headaches and can't come to class.

I was awake most of last night with that, plus body aches and chills, and it's still hanging on...but I know the source: my Shingrix vaccine. 50% of its victims experience those side effects, and I had them after the first dose, too. Should be OK by tomorrow, but man, does that vaccine ever kick your ass.

[Daehawk]

GDC has been cancelled

[Smoove_B]

Second community case in Santa Clara County, California. ~90 miles from location of the first.

The case — an adult woman with pre-existing health problems, reportedly receiving care at Mountain View’s El Camino Hospital — is the second this week in which the infected person had no known exposure to the coronavirus either through travel overseas or another infected person. The first case also arose in the Bay Area, in Solano County.

Also of note:

And Oregon health officials late Friday reported their own coronavirus case of unknown origin, which would be the country’s third. The patient is from Washington County, but no other details were immediately available.

EDIT: More info on Oregon case

Oregon's first corinavirus case emerged on Friday, and the infected person worked at an elementary school in the Portland area, which will be temporarily closed, authorities said.

“The case was not a person under monitoring or a person under investigation. The individual had neither a history of travel to a country where the virus was circulating, nor is believed to have had a close contact with another confirmed case — the two most common sources of exposure," the Oregon Health Authority said in a statement.

The Lake Oswego School District sent a robocall to parents saying that Forest Hills Elementary will be closed until Wednesday so it can be deep-cleaned by maintenance workers.

I would expect people in that area are likely losing their minds right now. Having the 1st case at a school really makes me believe we're all living in a simulation.

[Isgrimnur]

When do GenCon tickets go on sale?

[Kurth]

OR case is in my town. We got the robo call while we were all out for dinner at a brewery in Portland. Just got this follow up email from the school district:

An LOSD employee working at Forest Hills Elementary has tested positive for the coronavirus Covid-19. It is a preliminary positive and we are awaiting confirmation from the Centers from Disease Control (CDC).

With an abundance of caution and care for everyone’s health, we are closing Forest Hills through Wednesday, Mar. 4. The school will be cleaned deeply. All activities at the school are cancelled through Wednesday.

We are working closely with the public health authorities to monitor and evaluate the situation. We will notify you when we have more information.

Well, that sucks.

[Daehawk]

Thought it interesting that the 2nd busiest port in the US is empty just about. The video showed no ships but said it was only getting 50% of the normal daily traffic. Said things like toilet paper and other things could run short. Not sure if the products are not being shipped of the raw materials aren't. Either they think stuff could pass it on or the material origins are sock or something. Shrug.

[Kurth]

Also, on the way back home, passed the local Safeway grocery store, and the lot was overflowing. On a Friday night. At 7:30 pm. Not good.

[Daehawk]

At this rate by the time I go to town late next week I wont find any toilet paper, food, or hand sanitizer.

[gameoverman]

Then again, some of us aren't germophobes, enjoy a robust immune system in return, and don't get sick very often.

I agree with you except for one factor- fecal material. Cooties, I can handle. Dried flecks of someone's liquidy poop smeared on a surface that I'm about to touch, not so much. What if I buy a drink later and touch the straw that I'm going to use to stir my drink then I put that straw in my drink and the moment I touched the straw some fecal matter transferred on to it? Now it's in my drink! If I wash my hands every chance I get, crud gets washed off so that I don't need to worry about contaminating items I myself later touch.

Germs are but one type of beast lurking out there.

[Daehawk]

Im a catch 22 immune person. In the old days me and my wife were in town 2, 3, 4 times a week if not more among the masses. All the time. So though we came into contact with lots of people and germs supposedly our immune system was stronger for it. But for the last 6 years or so....and now me alone totally.....I go to town maybe twice a month . So Im in way less contact so less chance to catch something but supposedly my immune system wont be as tough because of it.

So I think I kinda balance out either way. Less immune less contact or more immune more contact.

[Kasey Chang]

With a second case in NorCal confirmed (Palo Alto resident, may have infected two more), and the earlier case found in Vallejo, San Francisco Chinatown is panicking. People are stocking up on rice and apparently Chinatown is running out of rice, and the price has DOUBLED. It's pretty ridiculous.

[Kasey Chang]

Probably the most WTF coronavirus related topics so far... beverages

a) Coca-cola said coronavirus may affect its stock of sweeteners... apparently, Nutrasweet inventory for Coca-cola comes out of China, and it's already delayed. Look for Diet Coke shortage soon. My local Amazon prime Now already ran out of Diet Coke... Making do with Diet Pepsi right now.

b) Apparently sales for Corona beer also hit the floor.

[Kasey Chang]

This is ridiculous... Amazon Prime Now! has diet coke back in stock, but ran out of instant noodles. That's right, instant noodles. It used to be 12 for $2.70 (it should be like 5 or 6 for $1 at dollar stores). it's now 0.45 for a single serving. At this rate, I'm gonna rent a car and make a dash to my local dollar store, if they have anything worthwhile left.

[Smoove_B]

Watching a suspected case in NJ. If this turns out to be positive, things are going to get interesting.

[Holman]

Johns Hopkins University digital map of known cases: link

[Isgrimnur]

One dead in Washington state.

[Xmann]

I might finally have some reason to be nice to my crazy prepper father in law. Worse case scenario, I'm headed two hours up I-75 to BFE Kentucky and his plantation he's been prepping for years.

I shall call him, Hershel.

Sent from my SM-G960U1 using Tapatalk

[gameoverman]

I imagine the last couple of months have been good ones for preppers and survivalists. FINALLY! People laughed at you but now they will be begging for one of your legumes.

[Smoove_B]

One dead in Washington state.

There's been some mixed messages and/or confusion over details. The two additional cases in the Seattle area:

The first is a teen with no travel history who attends Jackson High School in Mill Creek. The teen is at home in isolation but visited Seattle Children’s North Clinic on Monday.

There’s a concern the teen acquired the virus in the community, health officials said, and they are working to identify how the teen was exposed and are trying to track down people who might have come in contact with the patient.

The second person is a King County woman in her 50s who traveled to Daegu, South Korea, and is at home in isolation. The woman did not need medical attention and is recovering without complications. According to health officials, she has not been out in public since she started getting symptoms.

[Kasey Chang]

Another interesting thing... Either Amazon Prime now is not getting enough drivers, or people are ordering stuff like crazy. I tried to place an order, and I was told there's no "free" delivery period until TOMORROW. Usually there's a free period available in about 4-6 hours. I can pay extra $5 for 1 hour delivery window, but not worth the money, IMHO.

[Smoove_B]

Won't surprise me at all to learn Amazon deliveries are delayed and having similar logistical issues with UPS and USPS as during holiday season. I suspect this next week is going to get nuts.

[Jeff V]

Then again, some of us aren't germophobes, enjoy a robust immune system in return, and don't get sick very often.

I agree with you except for one factor- fecal material. Cooties, I can handle. Dried flecks of someone's liquidy poop smeared on a surface that I'm about to touch, not so much. What if I buy a drink later and touch the straw that I'm going to use to stir my drink then I put that straw in my drink and the moment I touched the straw some fecal matter transferred on to it? Now it's in my drink! If I wash my hands every chance I get, crud gets washed off so that I don't need to worry about contaminating items I myself later touch.

Germs are but one type of beast lurking out there.

So, you're saying you wouldn't voluntarily get a poo transplant? (it's a thing for fixing issues with inadequate gut bacteria).

[hitbyambulance]

Another interesting thing... Either Amazon Prime now is not getting enough drivers, or people are ordering stuff like crazy. I tried to place an order, and I was told there's no "free" delivery period until TOMORROW. Usually there's a free period available in about 4-6 hours. I can pay extra $5 for 1 hour delivery window, but not worth the money, IMHO.

local grocery stores here are super-jammed
\https://twitter.com/KYWeise/status/1233840011159588866

Really should have done my regular Costco run last week. I’ve never seen it like this. This is a few miles north of Seattle.

[Daehawk]

A person is smart......people are stupid.